Used Grooves is the kind of store where vinyl lovers can walk
out with a "Classie" Freddie Blassie or Amazing Kreskin album tucked under
their arms, placed in between The Beatles' "Magical Mystery Tour" or Blondie's
"Eat to the Beat."

Nestled at the corner of North Fourth and Northampton
streets in Easton, it is the second
of two used record shops located in the city's downtown district, along with
the Easton Record Exchange in Centre Square,
which sells both used records and new releases. (ANS
Coins and Collectibles, next door to Easton Record Exchange, also sells used
vinyl.)

The store joins a growing roster of record shops in the Lehigh
Valley and surrounding area — including
the Compact Disc
Center and Play It Again Records in Bethlehem,
Double Decker Records in Allentown,
Young Ones in Kutztown, Pa.
and Main Street Jukebox in Stroudsburg, Pa.
In Hellertown, 17-year-old entrepreneur Jesse Cipollini recently opened
Gr8soundz.

But store manager Brad Scott-Smith, of Easton,
says it is about bringing growth and good vibes to the community, rather than
competing for collectors' dollars.

"We're not here to dominate or to take over," he says. "We
want to be part of the growth, so when they do better, we do better."

View full sizeStore manager Brad Scott-Smith pulls out a copy of an Amazing Kreskin album at Used Grooves in Easton.Express-Times Photo | SUE BEYER

Nick Rose, of Easton Record Exchange, says he is glad consumers have several choices, not only in Easton, but in the Lehigh Valley.

"Growing up and being from Easton, it was always a bit of a drag, certainly for my parents, because I would beg them to drive me to Bethlehem and Allentown to go to record stores," Rose says. "We're all avid collectors of vinyl and I think we're just really happy that we have a selection in Easton."

Rose equates the number of stores to that of the city's booming restaurant scene. "The more restaurants, the better," he says. "Look at like this: If all of the restaurant owners were fighting with each other, then it would be bad for the restaurants."

In stock

Used Grooves houses an eclectic mix of genres — including
rock, electro, reggae, jazz and hip-hop — and has its own in-store turntable
set-up, though they purchase records on an appointment-only basis.

It also sells
exclusive jeans and T-shirts created by Liquid Sky Designs — making them one of
only one of three stores in the world to carry the clothing line, the other two
located in Germany
and Brazil.
Vintage concert posters adorn the outside display case.

"We've gotten so many compliments and so many people come in
here, even when they don't buy anything, just to say we're glad you're here,"
Smith says. "They love the signage out front. It's brought some color, it
filled the space on an empty corner ... It adds a
different sort of element."

He adds, "It's bringing Easton
up to date and we want to be part of its growth, and its rebirth, so to speak."

Owners Peter Ruzich and Kenneth Connors — both veterans of
the New York City music scene — decided to open a new shop in Easton, Smith
says, after seeing the growing trend in vinyl sales and distribution among
bands and music buyers. The storefront previously was home to Carrie Anne's
Gifts, which relocated to Third Street
in Easton.

"They started looking into Easton
and there is a lot of transitioning going on (here)," Smith says. "It seemed
like a better fit for the store."

Ruzich says when he first moved from New
York to Bloomsbury, N.J.,
nine years ago, Easton was a much
different place. After researching other locations in the Lehigh
Valley (including Bethlehem),
Ruzich, says he found, to his surprise, Easton
had started to resemble New York's
famed Soho district.

"I watched it go from a bunch of empty shops to what it is
now," Ruzich says. "So I decided to take the plunge."

Used Grooves opened its doors June 1 and will host a grand
opening celebration, tentatively scheduled for Aug. 24.